Ore and gems
Iron Ore
Iron is a useful early sale and crafting resource: pan it by hand first, then smelt it into bars when you have a furnace.
WHERE & HOW TO FARM
Iron Ore
Ember Cradle starter claim; wash dirt at the nearby water source, then take collected ore to the appropriate town buyer or furnace.
Before you go
- Shovel, bucket or pan, water, and brush.
- A clear spot beside water to wash dirt.
- For bars: access to a furnace and a safe way to carry the ore.
Farming steps
- Dig a small amount of dirt from your claim with the shovel and put it in the pan.
- Take the pan to water and rinse the dirt until the heavy material remains.
- Brush through the washed material to uncover ore and gems.
- Pick out iron pieces and collect them in a bucket; keep other finds separate if convenient.
- Carry the iron to town and sell what you do not need, or take it to a furnace once you own one.
- For crafting stock, smelt the ore according to the furnace interaction and store the resulting bars.
- Start with manageable pan loads so ore is less likely to spill while you carry it.
- Keep some iron instead of selling everything if your next purchase or build requires bars.
Repeat, collect and use
Repeat the shovel, rinse, brush, and collection cycle as long as you have accessible claim dirt. Smelt only the share you intend to use; sell the rest to fund tools and machines.
Common mistakes
- Washing without water access: move the pan to the water source before rinsing.
- Brushing before washing away the dirt: rinse first so the valuable pieces are exposed.
- Selling every piece immediately: reserve enough for any planned bar requirement before making a town sale.
When to stop or switch
Switch to drill and harvester production when the time spent hand-panning is slowing your next equipment purchase, or stop collecting when you have the iron stock you need for your current build.
Sources & fact checks
What you can get here
Open a guide to find other locations and see what the item is used for.